My short term target was to work on my breathing, I wanted
to be able to breathe effectively during songs. I would achieve this by
carrying out breathing exercises as well as marking my lyrics with the appropriate
places to breathe, so that I could visibly see where I needed to breathe. This
would allow me to improve my breath control. An exercise I used to work on my
breathing was to inhale and exhale breath, and I would increase the time I
would expel my breath as a way of controlling the breath I was releasing. For
example I would breathe in for 4, hold for 4, and then exhale for 4, I would
then repeat the first two steps and then exhale for 5, then 6 and so on. This
exercise allowed me to focus on the breath I was expelling and how I needed to
control how much breath I would release, this exercise could then be used when
singing as depending on how long a note would need to be held would depend on
how I controlled my breath, so the longer the note the longer it would take me
to expel the breath. This exercise allowed me to ensure that I wouldn’t run out
of breath half way through a note. I found marking my lyrics with where I
needed to breathe a really helpful and effective way of working on my
breathing. I found that the visual aid was a good reminder for me to take a
breath in between lines, something I would forget otherwise. This was aided
along by ensuring that my diction was good as I had more time to breathe when
necessary as I wasn’t dragging on words. I found that with these exercises I
was able to sing the songs more effectively because I wasn’t rushing through
the song in an attempt not to run out of breath and this gave me more time to
focus on performing the songs, rather than just singing them. To
further improve on my breathing by the end of the year I will look at exercise that
focus on strengthening my diaphragm and opening up my chest cavity so that I am
able to take in more breath. By doing exercises to strengthen my diaphragm I
will be able to use my breath control much easier which will in turn strengthen
my voice when singing.
These are my lyrics for All American Prophet. It was important that I knew where to breathe during my part as it is a wordy section, and so I had to ensure that I was able to get all the words in correctly. I marked off where to breathe so that I didn't run out of breath and higlighted the more difficult part where I needed to take a deep breath to complete the last part of my solo.
My long term target was to work on my range, so that I can
sing comfortably in a higher range. Our group vocal warm ups were my first step
to working on my range as we go through phrases that move up the scale
gradually. I found that I developed a habit of holding back on the higher notes
and so was directed in trying to open my mouth completely when singing in a
higher range. I found that this was a useful technique and a way to stop myself
from shying away from the higher notes and range. By letting my jaw open
completely I am able to create more sound and was putting less strain on my
vocal chords. To practise this when singing I would sing to a wall opposite me
as if I am trying to get the sound to hit the wall, I coupled this with
ensuring that I enunciated the lyrics. I began by over-enunciating the words to
reinforce in my head the action of opening my mouth completely and then I was
able to return to pronouncing the words normally once I had ensured I was
opening my mouth. When singing to the walls I practised my projection as well
as I tended to hold back in volume as well when trying to hit higher notes. I
found that by the show I was more comfortable in singing in a higher range and
that I can improve on this still by completing more specific exercises, such as
scale work, so that by the end of the year I will be able to sing in a higher
range with ease.
I have found that by working towards these two targets my
voice has strengthened, my breathing has improved vastly since the beginning of
the project and this has led to a method in which I will approach future songs.
By working on my range I am now able to widen my horizons in the types of songs
that I could perform, I have found that my actively opening my mouth wider when
singing my voice feels and sounds stronger and this has given me more
confidence when singing and performing. I would like to work further on my
range as I feel that if I were to continue to push myself I would be able to
have a larger singing range. This would be dealt with by singing and undertaking
vocal exercises more regularly as a way to see improvements. I have found from
previous experiences that when I don’t undertake regular singing practise the
ease at which I could sing a song or the strength of voice decreases and so I
would like to change that by completing exercises more regularly.
My focus during the project was to be able to feel confident
when performing solos within songs, I felt that I achieved this during the
weeks leading up to the singing show. I found that by getting to sing regularly
my voice got stronger, and so I felt like I able to really “go for it” and I
found that I was able to give performances that I was proud of. This was only
possible because of the work that I undertook in class sessions and the
exercises I did as an individual. Within class I was given the lead solo in a
group number, being given the lead solo allowed me to push myself as a singer.
The song “The World Will Know” is a song of protest and so as the character of
Jack I had to lead the group in protest and this character allowed me to
explore the variety of tones available to use when singing rather than just
singing plainly. Some of the lyrics in this song are also spoken and shouted
and so I got to look at the different ways of delivering the lines and how I
needed to prepare for them so I wouldn’t harm my voice. Unfortunately in the
run up to the show I got ill and lost my voice and so I spent the last two
weeks of rehearsals having to look after my voice to ensure that I would be able
to perform in the show. This problem with my voice meant that I had to alter my
solo because I wasn’t able to sing the final chorus as there was a key change
that I was unable to reach, however I was able to deal with this effectively and
just rearranged the end of the song. This illness showed me the simple alterations
that could be made to ensure I didn’t lose my voice entirely or damage my vocal
chords.
Vocal exercises that I used outside of college to help warm
up were humming and lip rolls as a simple way to warm up my voice wherever I
was. To work on my diction I would do tongue twisters (She sells sea shells on the sea shore) to really open up my mouth
and ensure I would pronounce every syllable within my lyrics. Another way to
work on my technique when singing was to complete nursery rhymes like Jack and
Jill and resting two fingers and my thumb on by bottom jaw. This exercise means
that I have to speak around my fingers and therefore have to work really hard
to pronounce the words. I would then remove my fingers and repeat the rhyme
again focusing on opening up my mouth to make the correct sounds and enunciate
the words. I also used this video:
I took the exercises
and then put them into practise in my own time, such as first thing in the
morning or when I would be rehearsing on my own:
This video focused on opening up the voice and I found that
these exercises helped remove tension that I was feeling in my throat and these
were especially useful when I was struggling with a sore throat.
Yawning: This helped to remove any unwanted tension in my
throat, I used this exercise before singing as it released my throat and
airways, allowing my throat space to open up. I found this was a really good
exercise to start with while I was suffering with a sore throat.
Lip Rolls: This exercise warms up the lips and I found this
relaxing and found that it is a good way to start engaging the diaphragm muscles.
I would then do scales while doing the lip roll as a way to warm up my vocal
range and was an easy way to warm up my voice without needing a vocal exercise
CD. Doing the lip roll through the scales starting at my lower range and then
moving up through my higher range into my head voice was an easy way to warm up
my higher range, which is the part of my vocal range that I struggled with the
most.
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